Russia Says It Has Fired At Ukrainian Military Positions Using MLRS And Thermobaric Weapons

Russia has said that it has fired at Ukrainian military positions using multiple launch rocket systems and thermobaric weaponry.

The footage appears to show one of Russia's war machines manoeuvring into position before it can be seen firing its weaponry into the sky.

Other images show a TOS-1A 'Solntsepek' multiple launch rocket system – it is unclear if it is the same one – also launching missiles into the sky. The vehicle can then be seen manoeuvring away from the location as the footage ends to avoid return fire.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 11th January, along with a statement claiming: "Heavy missile systems TOS-1A 'Solntsepek' of the Central Military District perform tasks in the zone of the special military operation.

"Operating as part of a combat vehicle and a topographical survey crew on the MTLB, the specialists of the RCB for the protection of the Central Military District inflict crushing blows with 220-mm thermobaric shells on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, burning out their shelters, observation posts, caches and artillery positions.

"The command of the Central Military District notes the high efficiency of the use of heavy flamethrower systems. In the area of ​​work of TOS crews, Ukrainian nationalists are increasingly voluntarily surrendering, leaving their positions and ignoring the orders of their commanders."

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 322nd day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 11th January, Russia had lost about 112,960 personnel, 3,094 tanks, 6,159 armoured combat vehicles, 2,078 artillery units, 437 multiple launch rocket systems, 217 air defence systems, 285 warplanes, 275 helicopters, 1,862 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 17 warships, 4,826 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 184 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

The leader of the Russian mercenary organisation Wagner has claimed that his forces have taken control of the Ukrainian town of Soledar.

Yevgeny Prigozhin said: “Wagner units have taken the whole territory of Soledar under control.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the "heroic" defenders of the town but did not provide any new information about the military situation on the ground.

US and Ukrainian officials have said that Russia's artillery fire has dropped by up to 75 per cent in some places on the battlefield, indicating a weakening of the Russian position in the conflict.

Western officials have said that Ukraine cannot retake significant swathes of territory from Moscow without a boost to its military capability, including tanks.

One Western official said on Tuesday that the Russian and Ukrainian forces are too closely matched for Kyiv to be able to launch a major offensive.

They said that a request from Ukraine for 300 tanks was “not an unreasonable number” in order to be able to launch an offensive against Russia’s forces.

US officials have said that Ukrainian troops are to begin training to use the Patriot missile system in the US as early as next week.

The training programme is reportedly expected to take “several months”.